World Cup Preview - Group H - Algeria

Wrapping up these preview with Algeria....


Absurd FIFA ranking: 22nd

Nickname: "Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes)"

Coach: Bosnian supremo Vahid Holilhodzic

Match Schedule:
June 17 – Algeria v. Belgium (Belo Horizonte, 12:00 p.m. EST, ESPN)
June 22 – Algeria v. South Korea (Porto Alegre, 3:00 p.m., ABC)
June 26 – Algeria v. Russia (Porto Alegre, 4:00 p.m., ESPN2)

Prospects: The weakest entry in a competitive Group H, Algeria are very hard to predict. They can either be the inspirational side who can surprise the continent's best or the side that nearly missed out on this summer's tournament in their play-off against lowly Burkino Faso. The Desert Foxes are in a rebuilding phase after an early exit in South Africa 2010, with Holilhodzic bringing in some promising young players for the future. This may prove fruitful in the future, but they'll certainly be up against it this summer.

Key Player: Totemic skipper Madjid Bougherra is the leader of this side; he provided the vital winning goal that saw the Desert Foxes through the playoff hoop.

Youngster to watch: Tottenham's 19 year-old Nabil Bentalib showed some flashes of real quality at White Hart Lane this season.

Who Will Get the Goals: Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani has an impressive strike rate of 1 goal in every 2 matches.

Who Will Get the Cards: Mohamed Zemmemouche was sent off twice in qualifiers!

Funniest Name in the Squad: I'm quite looking forward to hearing ESPN's commentators wrap their tongues around "Abdelmoumeme Djbou."

Prediction: The Desert Foxes could easily end up mirroring Rommel's fate on the African front - three and out.